On July 14th 2018, After seeing my video “The Great Paranormal Deceptions”, on my good friend, Laura Maxwell’s YouTube channel, Laura Constantino contacted Laura and myself regarding demonic activity and torment she was having in her home.

Her brother, Mark Constantino, of the famous TV show, “Ghost Adventures”, died in tragic circumstances, (double murder-suicide) on 9/22/15 at the age of 53.

Laura’s brother, Mark Constantino, and wife, Debbie Constantino, of the famous TV show, “Ghost Adventures”, died in tragic circumstances, (double murder-suicide) on 9/22/15.

Mark and Debbie Constantino, of “Ghost Adventures” TV Show, Featured on the Travel Channel.

How Laura’s personal nightmare began

On the show, Laura C. explains that after the tragic deaths of her brother, Mark Constantino, and his wife, Debbie, Laura was curious and wanted answers. How could someone, like her brother, that she knew so well.. do what he did? This was not a case of someone she hardly knew, but this was her brother that she grew up with.

As Laura explains in the interview, they grew up together, going to catholic school, and Mark was even an alter boy. This was not someone that lived in a home with no love. Her and Mark grew up in a loving home with very loving parents. The conversations between them never ended without saying, ” I love you”.

Laura and her siblings (Laura on front left, Gary on top left, and Mark on top right)

As Laura mentions on the show, she had many unanswered questions. Could this “hobby” of Marks’, (hence his involvement in the occult/paranormal) attributed to the tragedy? Could it have been that demonic spirits led him to do what he did? And what was it about the “paranormal” that Mark was so passionate about? Could the tragedy have actually been linked to this “hobby” of his?

Soon after Marks death, Laura decided to go to Virginia city, where Mark lived, to hopefully, try to get some answers. Her, along with her brother Gary Constantino, and her daughter Samantha LeoGrande all went together, despite warnings from her Priest, that “nothing good could come out of it”.

Laura, Samantha, and Gary

After they arrived, they went to a local “ghost hunt” to find out what it was about the “paranormal field” that Mark was so attracted to, and to also see if the investigators could possibly “contact Mark” during their ghost hunt, as she had seen Mark do so many times on Tv.

During the “ghost hunt”, it was brought to their attention that one of the investigators captured an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) of what sounded like her brother Mark’s voice. They were all amazed, and also “convinced” that they did indeed make contact with Mark.

In the interview, Laura and her brother Gary explain that after arriving back home, almost immediately, Laura’s daughter, Samantha and Laura, started having paranormal activity in their home. The activity that Samantha was experiencing slowly progressed to severe torment. The incidents became more severe, and even physical. There were a few times, in which the demonic spirits literally almost killed her.. (house fire, auto accident, etc) After months of this torment, and failed attempts of house clearings by the family priest, Laura’s precious daughter, Samantha passed away unexpectedly.. when only an hour before, her eyes appeared to be black in color, and she “didn’t seem like herself”. Laura felt certain that Sam’s life was taken by something not of this world.. something evil, something supernatural.

Soon after Sam passed, the paranormal activity that Laura was witnessing, soon escalated. As Laura explains in our interview, things happened such as sightings of “shadow figures”, and there were even incidents of physical attacks. Laura also suffered from incidents of sleep paralysis, where she would wake up on the floor, finding that she had been dragged out of her bed. Once, She even walked into a room and found her hanging cross inverted upside down. Besides all the demonic torment she was going through, she was also grieving for her daughter Sam, to the point of major depression, at times, even considering suicide.

Laura Constantino and her beautiful daughter, Samantha LeoGrande

Out of pure frustration and desperation, she finally put her home on the market for sale. She couldn’t take anymore. She was seeking help through the Catholic Church, as this was all she knew. But why weren’t they able to help her? Why wasn’t things getting better after the priest would come and pray for her? The torment only escalated.

One day, she was searching on YouTube for answers, as she had done so many times before, She came across a video, called “The Great Paranormal Deceptions”, by Dana Emanuel, an ex-paranormal investigator, now a deliverance minister. On the video, Dana talks about the dangers involved in the paranormal field and the occult. During the video, Dana coincidentally mentions Laura’s brother, Mark, and the tragedy that led to his and his wife, Debbies’ deaths.

After Laura C. contacted Dana, they spoke several times over the phone, sometimes the conversations lasting 3+ hours, as she and Dana discussed the torment that her and her family were going through. Having gone through a very similar situation, Dana explained to her how her prior involvement in the occult (paranormal investigations) eventually led to the demonic torment that Dana and her family went through, and she explained the steps necessary to rid herself and her home of the demonic spirits.

About the hosts of Spirituality Today, Laura and Dana Investigate

About Dana Emanuel, Radio Show Co-host:

Dana, being an Ex-Ghost hunter herself, was very familiar with Laura’s brother Mark Constantino, and his wife, Debbie. As she was always a big fan and follower of theirs while she was in the paranormal field. Dana used to be the founder of “Dead Time Paranormal Investigations”, until she finally left the field in 2011.

Dana left the paranormal field and got deliverance (aka exorcism) after her and her family suffered severe demonic attacks, and she learned that the “spirits” she was communicating and interacting with during these “ghost hunts”, were actually demonic spirits, masquerading as the departed spirits of our dead loved ones, (familiar spirits) just as the Bible tells us. After leaving the field, Dana began a deliverance ministry, warning and teaching others about the occult, and deceptions regarding the paranormal field.

About Laura Maxwell, Radio Show Host

Laura Maxwell, also has a very similar testimony, leaving spiritualism and the occult, but only after losing her dear mum tragically to suicide, after suffering severe torment by demonic spirits.

Laura Maxwell’s mum, Rita Peffer

Laura Maxwell leads a very successful ministry, Our Spiritual Quest, warning people of the dangers and deceptions surrounding spiritualism, the new age, and the occult and she shares the truth of Jesus, on TV and radio interviews. Laura Maxwell was also the Radio Host for “The Supernatural, on Eternal Radio”.

Laura Maxwell’s ministry website is:

Https://ourspiritualquest.com

Laura Maxwell and Dana teamed up and advised Laura C. of what needed to be done for her to get deliverance and to stop the demonic activity in her home. They counseled with her for several months.

In the meanwhile, we did a radio show interview with Laura Constantino and her brother, Gary Constantino, on August 25th, so Laura C. and Gary could warn others about the dangers involved in the paranormal. But after that show was recorded, Dana and Laura M. discussed getting Laura C. deliverance as she truly needed it. At this point, she had listed her home for sale, as the demonic harassment had become severe.

Laura Maxwell contacted a close friend of hers, Pastor Michael Cummins, Deliverance minister, to see if he could assist/lead in Laura C.’s deliverance, in which, he graciously volunteered.

Laura Maxwell and her good friend, Michael Cummins, of Revelation TV.

On 9/6/18, Laura Maxwell, and Dana assisted Michael Cummins as he led Laura’s deliverance, over Skype, which was very powerful and ended successfully, and we give God ALL THE GLORY!!!

After her powerful deliverance, we kept contact, and witnessed a miraculous transformation in her life, and besides all of the demonic activity ending, she is no longer depressed, or has thoughts of suicide! Even some people that she knew in her daily life told her that “something about her had changed” for the better. One lady told Laura that she seemed so happy and that the change was noticeable! The lady had no idea about her deliverance or the demonic torment she had been secretly going through.

The day after Laura C.’s deliverance, she messaged Laura and Dana, and told them, “when I woke up this morning, although it is cloudy outside, it seems as the day is bright, with birds singing, and it feels so good, and I feel FREE”!!

We did a second Radio interview with Laura C., to update everyone with her testimony, following her powerful deliverance, in which is included in the video! It’s a MUST HEAR!! (Part 2@ 1hr 59 minute mark)

On Our New Radio Show ‘Spirituality Today, Laura and Dana Investigate”, This very special and unique interview is our 1st episode! Laura and Gary Constantino share how Mark Constantino and Samantha LeoGrande’s involvement in the paranormal led to their early and tragic deaths. It also details the personal testimony of Laura’s powerful and life changing deliverance/exorcism and house cleansing which we personally assisted in over Skype.

I am free! Thank you Jesus. Three years I suffered and was tormented every day. I thought I was going crazy. Then I came across your video Dana, and I know God had me watch it. Divine intervention is what happened to me. Thank you Laura Maxwell, Michael Commons, And you Dana Emanuel for giving me my life back! My long-distance sisters, I love you both so much! Gary and I thank you for having us on your show to tell our story…..

Dana Emanuel writes:

This/these interviews were special to me for personal reasons, and Laura C. has been such a wonderful friend. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her transform spiritually where she has found profound freedom, like she has never experienced before! This case was personal also for my cohost and good friend, Laura Maxwell, as she too shares a very similar testimony! We pray that others will realize the truth behind paranormal research/the occult and how it affects people spiritually. We need to only seek the truth in Gods word and submit ourselves to it. Freedom is only found through Jesus… in Jesus alone!! This case was difficult as the enemy came against it in many ways. I was honored and humbled to have been able to assist and take part of her miraculous deliverance with Micheal Cummins and Laura Maxwell. It was very powerful and brought her much freedom! People that weren’t even aware of her situation and deliverance communicated to her of the noticeable differences and positive changes in her, which was the result of her deliverance, praise God!! We give GOD all the glory!!!!

Laura Maxwell writes:

Please share & pray that countless ghost hunters, mediums, and psychics, including fans of the world famous “Ghost Adventures TV show”, (that Mark & Debby both starred on with Zac Bagans and Team), see this interview with Mark’s brother and sister! Many thanks! God bless you!

Not long ago a tragedy rocked the paranormal community with the passing of the Constantino’s. It obviously affected the family the most, and Mark’s sister and brother were interviewed by Laura Maxwelland Dana Emanuel.. It was one of the most touching interviews I have ever heard…and later Mark’s sister was spiritually freed in marvelous way.

Ivani Greppi wrote:

I just finished listening to this powerful testimony! Praise God Laura and Dana for your ministry and for Laura Constantino’s deliverance from demonic bondage.

Although the tagedy involving Mark and Debbie Constantino are public record, we choose not to discuss the details surrounding the tragedy, out of respect for all parties involved, especially the immediate families. Please be sensitive and considerate for the grieving Constantino family when leaving comments. God bless

Christian witchcraft has become a new topic of debate within the Christian/secular community. The reason for this is that there are many people that claim to be Christian, while at the same time, they hold onto their Witchcraft beliefs.

How is this, one might ask? This has made myself and others curious, curious enough to examine witchcraft and what it truly means to be a witch, and if it is truly compatible with Christianity.

I thought it would be wise to first examine the question, What is a witch?

When I went to Wikipedia, it said:

“A woman thought to have magic powers, especially evil ones, popularly depicted as wearing a black cloak and pointed hat and flying on a broomstick.”

Although this description seems to fit what society visualizes when the word witch is mentioned, one must know it is much more complex than that.

Witch – One who practices witchcraft, usually one of the pagan / or Witchcraft religion.

When researching this subject, and asking this question, I was surprised at the variety of different answers I got. There are several different types of witches, and “groups (aka covens)”. Please note, all these different groups/covens have different traditions/beliefs.

Some topics that not all witches/covens agree on are:

The afterlife

Reincarnation and karma

Heaven and hell

God/s and goddesses

Jesus

Holy Bible

Sin

What is witchcraft?

According to the pagans path website:

It’s a form of spirituality and a religion, like many other faiths. In the most simplistic definitions, Witchcraft can be described as:

A nature based religion that believes in the balance of mind/body/spirit within the divine multiverse. It is a religion and way of life, honoring all things seen and unseen within that divine multiverse. Practitioners strive to live in harmony and balance within nature, believing we (human and nature) are all interconnected and parts of the greater divine force. Some call this force, The GreatSpirits, The Divine, God/Goddess, All That Is and so on. It’s really up to the individual and what label best fits their view of the Divine Spirit.

*This type of belief is new age. It suggests religious relativism.

What does the Bible say about witchcraft or “witches”?

Anytime we want to know if something is accepted by God, we must look at what His Word says. For the Christian, God’s Word is our final authority in all matters of our faith and life.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJVS

[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, [11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. [12] For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord : and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

2 Kings 21:6 KJVS

[6] And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord , to provoke him to anger.

What is a Christian?

First we should look at the first time the word “Christian” is used in the Bible:

Acts 11:26 KJV

[26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Christians are those that accept and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. They assemble together in the church and study what the disciples taught, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are Christ followers.

What is the gospel?

Christians must believe the gospel. The gospel is essential to the Christian Faith.

In Christianity, the gospel, or the Good News, is the news of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Paul’s gospel is of Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection to restore people’s relationship with God. It also includes the descent of the Holy Spirit upon believers and the second coming of Jesus Christ.

How do you get to have eternal life?

John 3:16 KJVS

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 17:3 KJV

[3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

What does it mean to be saved?

Acts 16:30-31 KJVS

[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Note: Anyone can “say” they believe in Jesus.. but that doesn’t mean they believe in the one and only true Jesus.. Jesus our savior! Many false religions claim to believe in Jesus, but in reality, they believe in a false Jesus. For example; Jehovia witnesses, Mormons, and 7th day advents. Some new age religions believe that Jesus is/was a descended master.

Jesus as a “Descended master”

Can you be both? Be of light AND of darkness?

1 John 1:5-7 KJVS

[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21 KJVS

[20] But I say , that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. [21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Saying something, verses true “confession”..

You can say anything, but it doesn’t mean you believe it with your whole heart. To confess something, means to declare it as absolute truth and knowing it as fact.

Verse that says “Lord Lord”

Their hearts are far from me:

Matthew 15:7-9 KJVS

[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men

*To all Christian Witches~ Do the things of the world, including the practice of witchcraft, come before God and what He has to say about it? A true Christian will “want” to please God, and will not want to do things that He abhors.

Christianity and Wicca-

Not only do they not agree, but they are blantly opposed, one to the other!

Do witches believe the Bible? Are they true believers? If they claim to believe, but yet they only accept “parts of the Bible, and make up an image of a Jesus that is different that the Jesus of the Bible, then they are created a graven image of Jesus Christ. It is a different Jesus.

Witches believe that humans are not superior to nature. They believe in nature admiration. The Bible says that amount people that rebel against the Bible are those that worship nature and the created things, instead of the creator. In which, would be in rebellion against God‘s word.

Witches believe in using divination, sorcery, and magic, while the Bible condemns it.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJVS

[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, [11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. [12] For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord : and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Witches also believe in spirits, spirit guides, and ghosts.

The Bible does not describe or support the notion of earthbound spirits/ghosts. The paranormal phenomena of ghosts, spirit guides, and spirits, are described in the Bible as familiar spirits. These are demons. Satan and his fallen angels masquerade as ghosts.

2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV

[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

1 Samuel 28:8-14 KJV

[8] And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. [9] And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? [10] And Saul sware to her by the Lord , saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. [11] Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. [12] And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. [13] And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. [14] And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

They believe that we are all energy beings and connected through energy. That through this energy we can connect to each other and all things with our psychic senses and that these senses are part of all nature and that all people have these senses within them.

This is not found in scripture, and this is also a new age belief.

What witches believe about God? (VERY IMPORTANT and central to the Christian Faith)

Witches believe/revere in both gods and the goddess.

(Bible describes these as False Gods)

The Bible explicitly describes God as a male figure. All throughout scripture, God is referred to as “He”, or “Father”.

What do Christians believe about God?

The Bible says there is only one true God. The God is Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The same God described in the Holy Bible.

Exodus 20:2-5 KJVS

[2] I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

1 Timothy 2:5 KJVS

[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Isaiah 44:6 KJVS

[6] Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:8-11 KJVS

[8] Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it ? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any . [9] They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. [10] Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? [11] Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

What do Christians believe about death and the afterlife?

As seen in Luke 16, the rich man that died and went to hell immediately. And a beggar named Lazarus that was immediately carried to heaven (Abraham’s bosom) by angels.

Luke 16:22-31 KJV

[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Do witches believe in hell?

No. They believe in a final eternal home called Summerlands. In which all people will live there, the good and the wicked.

Christians believe that when a person dies, their spirit immediately goes to either heaven (for the righteous) or hell (for the unrighteousness).

Witches believe in reincarnation

The Bible does not teach reincarnation.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV

[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The Bible teaches that Jesus is our blessed hope

Our hope and promise is that we will be ressurected to eternal life with Jesus after we die.

Acts 24:14-15 KJVS

[14] But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: [15] And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

God’s Holy Word:

A person that believes that they can be both a Christian and a witch, do not believe what Gods word says. They reject scripture.

The God of the Bible says that scripture is essential! The Bible tells us to test everything with scripture!

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 17:11 KJV

[11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Christianity has not changed. The Bible also tells us to not lean on our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV

[5] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. [7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord , and depart from evil.

People say, well, the Bible means different things to different people… the Bible says that scripture is not for private interpretation.

2 Peter 1:20 KJV

[20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Everyone might not understand everything in the Bible, we are all learning.. but if you truly pray and ask God for understanding of certain issues, he will show it to us. Then there are people who cannot know the things of the spirit because they are not of the spirit.

People spend millions of dollars on books, counselors, classes, etc to find answers to life’s questions, when in reality, it’s all in God’s word!

All of this doubt that we see today, in Gods word, and coming against Gods word, is of the devil.

The devil has come against Gods word since the beginning.. when he asked Eve in the garden, “hath God really said”?

And just like when Eve gave place to the devil, by heeding to this doubt, and rebelled against God.. it led to the fall of man. and death. Which is what will happen to us if we die in disbelief. The enemy is not our friend.. he aims to kill us, and to take us to hell with him.

If you are a true Christian, this verse will be ESSENTIAL to your faith. Do you believe the following verse?

Acts 4:12 KJVS

[12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

And that name is Jesus Christ!!

If the answer is “no”, then you are not a true Christ follower/Christian.

It is with my truest intentions, and with the utmost humility and love for others, that I explain in this blog and video, why “Sozo Inner Healing” is not of God. It is not biblical, and it actually leads people deeper into bondage than they already were into, before they sought help.

One might ask, “How do you know”? I personally went to this inner healing counseling with someone close to me. We both went through it. Did it bring freedom? No.

This technique called “Sozo Inner Healing” Emphasizes heavily on Experience, and De-Emphasizes on Doctrine. This is an extra biblical teaching, which is not found in the Bible, anywhere. The bible is our final authority and rule on all things, faith and practice, and the judge of all we do or say.

Many claim that this concept of gaining freedom is through creative visualization techniques.

This technique includes visits of Jesus in your mind, where the counselor “acts as the mediator.” But scripture tells us, There is only one mediator between us and God, that is Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV

[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

There is nothing in scripture that suggests that we need to visualize “past traumatic events” that took place in our lives, in order to get healed of the emotional traumas once suffered. People become deceived when they enter into a spiritual realm that they have no business delving into.

The visualized “Jesus” in this technique is the same as the spirit guides that the new Agers and spiritualists meditate on and communicate with. Just because something claims to have the name of Jesus does not mean it is indeed Jesus. The Bible warns about false Christs that will come, and false signs and wonders in the last days.

It’s very interesting to know that the Bible warns us that this “false Christ” that comes will masquerade as something good. And that if possible, it will deceive even “the elect”. What better way to do this than to minick Jesus Himself. You can’t deceive a Christian with something that “appears” as something evil. The best way for Satan to deceive a Christian would be to appear as something good.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 KJV

[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV

[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

In the book of revelations it talks about how the antichrist and false prophets will deceive many.. it will be false signs and wonders.. and the Bible also talks about how if possible, even the elect would be deceived. How would this be? A FALSE JESUS WITH FALSE SIGNS AND WONDERS!

Matthew 24:23-26 KJV

[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have told you before. [26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Visual techniques are designed for people to discover their “inner power” to give the person control of their own lives and destiny.

One way demonic spirits come in is by invitation, through “visualization/meditation techniques”.

Demonic spirits (Familiar spirits) pose as angels, spirit guides, aliens, descended masters, earthbound spirits (including Mary, and apostles), animal spirits, big foot (and other mythical creatures), and yes, even Jesus. The “jesus” that is visualized during these inner healing sessions, is no different than what spiritualists call spirit guides.

When we communicate with these spirits, (demons) it is essentially the same thing as necromancy. Because as we know, the Bible says that when we die we are no longer here and it is impossible for the dead to speak to us. (Luke 16, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Hebrews 9:27) and therefore, any attempts of communicating with the dead is actually communication with familiar spirits.

Necromancy is a claimed form of magic involving communication with the deceased either by summoning their spirit as an apparition, or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge. The term may sometimes be used in a more general sense to refer to black magic or witchcraft.

Have we forgiven those that hurt us? How do we forgive, biblically? Jesus said seventy times seven.. and in the Bible, Jesus gives us an example of a daily prayer.. in which, he tells us we should ask God to forgive those that trespass against us, everyday, and that we need to forgive them “from the heart”. ( not only by word) The Bible tells us that if we do not forgive others, we can not be forgiven by God. It also says that if we don’t forgive others, God will “deliver us to the tormentors”, until we forgive others.

Matthew 18:33-35 KJV

[33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

With the sozo healing techniques, the counselor will guide the client through a mental visualization of the client “going back to the time and place of a traumatic event” that took place earlier in their life, in which, the counselor feels is the source of the current problems of the client. This technique will cause the person to have a flood of negative emotions, and feelings of hurt, in which is only a replay of the trauma they suffered before, except, during the visualization, the counselor will now bring “Jesus” on the scene, (False Jesus) which will embrace the client and “heal them”. This technique only makes the person relive the trauma all over again, feel traumatized all over again, making them feel the flood of negative emotions that they felt when they actually went through the traumatic event earlier in their life. These sessions usually make the client feel emotionally exhausted and in reality, they become demonically oppressed even further, or possibly even Demon possessed.

Philippians 3:13 KJVS

[13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

This sozo healing techniques is merely “masking” a new age technique, with the imagery of Jesus. This is a false Jesus!

According to several online sources, Bill Johnson’s “Bethel Ministry” is where this practice originated from. They have also adapted to other new age techniques, such as:

False prophecy

Visualization

“Fire tunnels”

Grave soaking trips

Visualization, contemplative prayer, and meditation practices

Chanting, soaking, and spiritual drunkenness

“Toking” the Holy Ghost to get “high on Jesus”

They believe that “a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with a doctrine.”

Test The Spirits

We need to always test things with scripture. We are commanded to in the Bible.

1 John 4:1-6 KJVS

[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Bad Fruit

The evil root of these techniques are demonic new age philosophy .. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit!

Matthew 7:15-23 KJVS

[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The “fruit” of any professed prophet would be their “teaching”. This would also apply with any pastor, teacher, or any other person who stands in the name of God.

This teaching is not based on biblical teachings. It is based on immediate experience, as the long term effect would result in further bondage and demonic oppression/or worse, possession.

How to get True Freedom

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 KJV[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, thatGod was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

We do not need to perform any ritualistic techniques for the freedom Chris gives us!

One major problem with this “way of salvation” and deliverance, is the fact that it teaches that freedom comes from these visualization techniques, but do not hold to the true teaching in scriptures of salvation, and deliverance. There is no mention of repentance of sin in these techniques either. Sin is the very thing that brings bondage! There is no possible way to get freedom if we do not repent of our sins, forgive others, submit to Jesus, and read God’s Word.

•Believe on Jesus

•We must submit to God fully,

*turning away from sin

*Forgive others

•Get deliverance

•Read His word everyday, as this is how the Holy Spirit transforms and renews our mind.

A dear friend of mine, Mark Hunnemann, recorded a series on “Challenging The Popular Theory Of Residual Energy Haunts”, which offers a thorough analysis of this belief, which is mostly unexamined, and a speculative theory in the paranormal community. This is the very first analysis I have ever seen of anyone even trying to debunk it. He did an excellent job proving it to be unscientific and unbiblical. For anyone that wants the truth regarding this subject, I HIGHLY recommend they watch his series of videos on this topic!!

Children and the Occult

What is the occult?

If you were to ask a large group of people this question, you would get many differen answers. One thing that may come to mind would be something like a scene from a movie, perhaps a couple of people in black attire, with hoodies on, standing inside a circle that is drawn on the floor, with a pentagram in the center of it, with candles lit, while they chant, and cast spells. This is what the media usually portrays as the occult or witchcraft.

But on the other hand, if you look at what the Bible says regarding the occult, you will find a much broader description.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJV

(10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (11) or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord and because of these abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

It is very hard to direct your children in the ways of the Lord in today’s society because occult practices has become acceptable, “appears” to be harmless, and has become the “normal way of life”.

Witchcraft and the occult have become the norm, and a way of life. Children learn occult practices from a very early age, from the media, books, the influence of their friends, and sadly, even thier parents and other family members teach them.

Fairy Tales and Cartoons

Fairy tales and bedtime stories with witchcraft and the occult has been a great influence on children as well. Here are some examples from many common fairy tales that you would find on any book shelf in daycares, schools, or even our homes. In the illustrations below, Please take notice of how the occult and witchcraft is a big part of the story.

– Snow White. Witch casts a spell on an apple eaten by Snow White. The spell is broken by a kiss from the prince. They live happily ever after.

– Cinderella. Witch casts a spell so Cindrella can go to the ball. The spell ends at midnight when Cinderella loses her dress and carriage. In the end all is well for Cinderalla.

– Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and her dog get transported to the land of Oz. A wizard is the leader and he is the man Dorothy and friends must see for help. Dorothy gets help from the “good” witch and battles the evil witches. The witches cast their spells in the story.

Do you see a trend in many of the old time fairy tales and stories? They have bad witches casting evil spells and so-called good witches casting “good” spells. Many, if not all, fairy tales have a happy ending where the good witch wins, so the child will be given a pleasant introduction to the world of the occult and witchcraft.

Occultic Games Children Play

I remember when I was a kid, playing with a “magic 8 ball”, asking questions, such as, “Will I get married when I’m older?”, or “Will I get a new pet this year?” It seems very innocent and harmless, and you may be asking yourself, well.. what’s the harm in that?

The problem with these games, is that although they appear to be harmless and entertaining, they are forms of divination and witchcraft. What is even more disturbing about them, is the very fact that they are designed to have more appeal to them due to thier innocent appearance. More people would be drawn to them., simply because they “think” they are okay, and in fact they are entertaining.

Games such as the “Magic 8 ball”, or “paper fortune tellers” may not be appear to be associated with the occult, but in reality, they are no different than using tarot cards. With the heavy influence and acceptance of the occult in society today, it is no surprise that games such as “Ouija” and “Children’s tarot cards” are not only accepted by society, but they are “hot selling items”, sold in most local toy stores.

Voodoo Dolls

I have even come across “Voodoo dolls”, made for children. It is interesting to know that Voodoo” means “spirit of God.” Believers of voodoo believe in one ever-present God, and they speak with the spirits, called the “Loa”. They believe that the Loa are our dead ancestors and the messengers of the God. They believe that the Loa influence the daily affairs of the living, especially when it comes to love, money, family, happiness, justice or revenge. Voodoo dolls are vital tools used in rituals by those in the voodoo religion. This religion is a false religion, which actually uses witchcraft, and the powers of darkness.

This religion is unbiblical and in no way does it have a place in the life of a Christian, or in a child’s toy box for that matter.

Necromancy

With the explosion of the high interest in ghosts in society today, it is no surprise that children are becoming involved in ghost hunting and “paranormal research”. This practice involves necromancy, divination, and consulting with familiar spirits. All of which, are forbidden in scripture.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJV

(10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (11) or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord and because of these abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

The Indoctrination of our children to such practices from such an early age is very alarming to a true believer, but this tactic is not new by any means. There is nothing new under the sun. God acknowledged that children were practicing magic and witchcraft in Isaiah 47:12, and He did not approve of it. It is alive and well around the world and in our nation today, just as it was when the book of Isaiah was written.

Isaiah 47:12 KJV
[12] Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

What’s the harm?

Demonic spirits have one goal. And that goal is to destroy us.

God has a hedge of protection around every person, even sinners and unbelievers. Demons can not penetrate this hedge of protection, unless we willfully do wrong. Sin has inescapable consequences of ruining us. And when we continue to do wrong, (Sin) our hedge will become weaker, and the demons attacks become stronger.

But do demons have a right to attack children?

As parents, we are responsible to raise our children in the admonition of the Lord, and to teach them in the ways they ought to go. When we fail to do this, our children pay the price. The lifestyle a child is exposed to will become the norm for that child. Whatever is the “usual”, will become the norm to a child. If a child is exposed to witchcraft and occult practices, the child will not see anything wrong with it, unless they are corrected and taught that it is indeed wrong, and therefore it is harmful.

The fact is, children can even become demon possessed. Although this is tragic and sad, it is a reality, and it is biblical.

Mark 9:17-26 KJVS

[17] And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; [18] And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. [19] He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. [20] And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. [21] And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. [22] And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. [23] Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. [24] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. [25] When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. [26] And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him:

Although children don’t always become demon possessed, demons are masters at gradualism; if it takes 20 years or even 50 years to ruin a person, this is not a problem. They have nothing else to do, and this is their goal.

How can we protect our children?

The first step would be to make up our mind to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

We as parents, are charged with helping our children learn to guard their hearts and minds from the deceptive and destructive forces of evil that often masquerade as harmless, or even good. As Christians, we have to do all we can in the power of the Holy Spirit to make sure the enemy of our souls does not gain any ground.

Isaiah 54:13-14 KJVS

[13] And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord ; and great shall be the peace of thy children. [14] In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 KJVS

[14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

It was during my ghost hunting years, that I not only believed to be helping people, that called us, desperately looking for someone to rid their home of “ghosts” or demons, but I also believed wholeheartedly that I was also “helping” spirits. These spirits would often times, claim to need help in “crossing over to the other side”, or to go to “the light”.

A testimony of my personal deception

Before I became born again, in 2011, I was a leader of a paranormal investigation team, called ” Dead Time Paranormal Investigations”. One night, me and my paranormal research team were investigating the Putnam Hotel, in Deland, Florida. The historical records of this hotel showed that on Feb. 10, 1984, a 19 year old man named Stephen Hughes pushed his 22 year old pregnant girlfriend off the third story fire escape to her death.

There were also rumors of a hotel guest that killed his wife, in which, after a heated argument with her, he began choking her, and after she collapsed unconscious, he thought she was dead. And the rumor was, that after he “thought” he had killed her, he then panicked and in an attempt to stage the scene to make it appear as if she committed suicide, he threw her off the rooftop where she fell to her death. And after he did this, he himself committed suicide.

When we investigated this hotel, we got a great deal of evidence that suggested we were communicating with the “earthbound spirit” of the man that did this, that ended his own life. This spirit (which was truly a demon masquerading as the mans earthbound spirit) had us convinced that it was indeed him, and that he could not cross over into the light, because of the severity of what he did. There came a time during our investigation where we “thought” we helped this man’s soul cross over, into the light. We were all sitting around a table, on the top floor (the 6th floor) which was deserted as it was no longer in use by the hotel, expect they were using it as storage. We conducted a “table tipping seance”. While we were asking the “spirit” questions, we were told by the spirit that it could not go into the light. And that he had a hard time forgiving himself for what he did. And he wanted help from us, to “lead him to the light.” The seance was very emotional, as we all were deeply sadden by the fact that this spirit was “trapped” here and as a result was very depressed, and unable to find peace. At this point of the seance, we heard a noise. It was music. I turned around, and realized that my ghostbox (which was sitting on a shelf behind us, that was turned off) had turned on by itself, and played a song, a Christian song, called “going home”! The entire song played, and while it was playing, we were taking notice of what the words were saying, and at this point, our emotions could no longer be held at bay. We all started crying, we were crying with tears of joy, as we believed, this spirit was going into the light. There was not a dry eye in the room.

I must mention, that a “ghost box” is a radio, which is modified internally, to make it scan, continuously, searching for channels, in which, it is believed that the bits and pieces of words heard over the “white noise” while it is scanning, makes it possible for the voices of “spirits” to come through. This modification that is done on a ghost box makes it to where it can no longer “stop on a channel”, and play a song in it’s entirety.

What is “The Light”, according to scripture?

Jesus IS the light

John 9:5 KJVS

[5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Why do some not come to the light?

John 3:19-20 KJVS

[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

This notion of helping earthbound spirits “cross over” into the “light”, essentially implies that salvation is offered to us, after death.

Is this possible? Let’s look at what scripture says.

First, we must know that Gods Word is sufficient and that it does tell us all that we need to know, especially when it comes to salvation!

2 Timothy 3:15-16 KJVS

[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

For anyone to say that God’s Word is not sufficient and is not “clear enough” to give us instruction on how we can be saved, or on what happens to us when we die, is a direct attack on God and His Word. This notion comes from the enemy. The enemy has attacked Gods Word from the beginning.

How can we be saved?

Salvation Comes By grace, through Faith.

Acts 16:30-31 KJVS

[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

How do we believe in something we cannot see? Do we have to have something proven to us, in order to have faith in it? No.

The Bible tells us what faith truly is.

Hebrews 11:1,6-8,13 KJVS

[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

One of the biggest problems with the notion of “Postmortem salvation” is that we must get saved BEFORE DEATH, because salvation requires FAITH!!

After death, we are automatically shown the TRUTH, as we will go immediately to heaven or to hell, and at this point, the reality of the truth is undeniable, and no longer would require faith. We will find that Gods Word is true!!

While living, we have often wondered, what truly happens to us after we die? We have asked ourselves, is the Bible really true, and is Jesus Christ really who He said He is?

But as believers, we have made a conscience decision to repent, and have faith In Jesus, and His Word, and to follow Him, by obeying His word. And as a result, once we truly make this conscious decision, God will then make it KNOWN TO US. He opens our spiritual eyes. Suddenly, when we read the Bible, it truly agrees with our spirit and we know it to be true.

The reason that this notion of “Postmortem salvation” is false (and heretical) is because we must get saved BEFORE DEATH, because salvation requires FAITH!!

And after death, it would no longer require faith. as we are automatically shown the TRUTH, as we will immediately go to heaven or to hell and at that point, the reality of the truth is undeniable, and no longer would require faith. We will find that Gods Word is true!!

As you can see, this notion of salvation after death is heresy, and we truly need to expose it for what it is.

After all, who would want us to believe we have more time to get saved, and not be prepared before we die… Satan! He is a liar!

Seeking first the kingdom of God~

Dana Emanuel

Deliverance Minister

“Shining the glorious light of Jesus Christ, while exposing the deceptions of the enemy”

This testimony, written by Ivani Greppi, is very powerful, and I pray it blesses all of those that read it, as much as it blessed me! Thank you Ivani for allowing me to share it! ~ Dana Emanuel

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV).

FOREWORD
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6, NIV).

Twenty-one years ago, a missionary pastor from Brazil visited Pyramid Printing, my parent’s mom and pop shop in Kissimmee, Florida. God used this casual event—a simple business card order—to deliver us from generations of occult practices. This is a summary of what my family and I experienced during decades of being deceived by Satan through the practice of spiritism.

My parents, sister, and I were born in Brazil. Our European ancestors, brought with them to the New World, occult beliefs and rituals practiced for generations before them. I became a fourth generation spiritist medium in Brazil.

My father’s paternal grandparents came from Italy. His Sicilian grandmother was a healer who used potions, herbs, and incantations to heal ailments, as well as spiritual harm caused by “evil-eye” curses. Dad’s father, exhibited strong psychic abilities. As a young boy, he alerted his parents about a fox killing all piglets in the pen. But when his parents checked the animals, the suckling piglets were intact, sleeping next to the sow.

Later, the scene repeated, however this time the family witnessed the fox escape with a piglet dangling from its jaw after killing the entire litter as my grandfather predicted. One of grandfather’s visions even saved a man’s life who went missing after his horse returned home alone. Grandfather accurately described the area where the man lay injured after a rattlesnake spooked his horse.

My mother’s ancestors, immigrated to Brazil from Spain. All practiced spiritism. My maternal great-grandmother, grandmother, and grandfather were mediums. Family, neighbors, and friends often brought sick children to their home to be blessed, or to receive spiritual energy “passes”. The healings included removal of the “evil-eye”, fevers, spiritual attachments, even intestinal worms. Teas, herbal baths, incense cleansing, and lighting of candles in honor of spirit guides, and guardian angels were prescribed for cures.

The Gospel According to Spiritism by Allen Kardec was our “bible”. This 1800’s French educator codified spiritism. One of his missions was to clarify the teachings of Jesus “inaccurately” translated in the Bible. We believed in reincarnation and lived in communion with spirits in relation to the corporeal world through Kardec’s mantra: “To be born, to die, to be reborn yet again, and to always progress—that is the natural law.”

We called ourselves Catholics, but for traditional purposes only: Weddings, child baptisms, and seventh day masses for the dead. In reality we rejected traditional religion and did not believe in heaven or hell. “Crentes” (Christian believers) who came door-to-door evangelizing were not welcomed. When they stood behind our property fence, clapping at the gate announcing their presence, we shunned them.

At the age of fourteen while living in Brazil, my indoctrination to develop as a practicing medium happened at a Umbanda Temple. Until meeting the Brazilian pastor at the age of thirty-eight, I had never read the Bible, much less heard about eternal Salvation in Jesus Christ.

We were not evil. We truly believed communication with spirits came from God. And our psychic abilities, a gift from Him.

PART I
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11, NIV).

I am five-years-old. Once again, I am awakened from innocent sleep. The type of sleep only children experience. Wide-eyed, I stare into a sea of deep blackness. In the void, someone, or something is hovering close to our pull-out sofa. Watching. Glaring. Fear claws at my heart. A chill envelops me. My skin prickles with raised bumps, and my scalp tingles. Too scared to blink, yet too terrified to see what is behind the blanketing darkness, I try to scream. Only low, garbled sounds escape my lips. Air catches in my throat. My lungs burn for oxygen. Am I dying? My vocal cords and muscles are completely paralyzed. The only movement possible is through my eyelids: Blinking, shutting tight, opening wide.

It is closer now. Menacing. Cruel. Hostile. There is palpable evil filling the atmosphere. While I struggle with invisible chains choking the life out of me, my younger sister stirs. I hear her steady breathing, and the swooshing of blood pounding against my eardrums. Finally, I break free. A scream shatters the silence. It takes a second to realize I am the one screaming. Shaken, I sit up crying out for my mother. And through the dimness I see silhouettes across the room: A chair, the television set with rabbit ears, and papai’s turntable console where a shadowy figure retreats behind, then passes through the wall.

My sister bolts up awake. She hugs my trembling body. Her voice is warm against my cheek, “Don’t cry…mamãe’s coming.” A door creaks open and shuts with a click. The hallway light comes on. My mother’s flip-flops slap the floor in hurried steps. Shushing, she enters the room. It takes many hugs and kisses to finally calm me, “I’ll get you some sugar-water. And tomorrow, you’ll see. Vovó, will make the vultos go away, yes?”

Vultos are shadow people, or spiritual attachments. In spiritism they are described as disincarnated, wandering spirits. Vovó, my grandmother said even though the spirits scared me, they meant me no harm. Because I was a vidente (seer of the spirit world), I was only a vessel used by the spirits to communicate through. When I matured physically, emotionally, and mentally, I would be ready to develop as a medium. This was my mission here on earth.

Today, Vovó blesses me while I sit on her lap. With pinched fingers, she makes crosses over my head, my forehead, back, and chest while praying words I cannot understand. Her fingers snap above my bowed head, my bangs a thin blond curtain over my eyes. I stare at the floor—a patchwork of red ceramic tile fragments laid piece-by-piece by my father. Beneath the table, a mosaic pattern of different colored fragments in the shape of a five-point star. Vovó yawns. Tears on her cheeks streak the rice powder she applies every morning, “There. All better,” smiling she caresses my hair with both hands, “all you need now is a sprig of rue behind your ear to protect you.”

PART II
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19, NIV)

As I grow, I continue to see shadow people, or sense their ominous presence following me everywhere I go. Day or night. At school, or while at play. It seems like the rituals make little to no impact on how they constantly torture me. I cannot be left alone anywhere. My younger sister is tired of chaperoning me whenever I have to go into a room, including the bathroom, I’m ashamed to admit. When I have no choice but to enter a room by myself, bruises covering my arms and legs are testimony to my fight-or-flight response. It’s not possible to fight the invisible. Escaping the threat, I crash against walls and furniture, trip and fall when unseen forces seem to push and shove me about.

During second grade vacation, my mother took me to spend a week with her paternal grandmother, and aunt. I hated going there, but I never expressed this to my parents. Their house was filled with shadows, even on the sunniest days. But what frightened me most about this place were the two vicious German Shepherds chained behind the chicken-wire fence in their backyard.

After supper, I stand behind the kitchen’s screen door watching my great-aunt feed the dogs our scraps. It’s twilight, and there’s a purplish glow in the sky projecting lilac shadows about the yard. Birds peck at papaya peels scattered on the grass next to the herb garden. The dogs strain at their chains, baring teeth dripping with saliva at the food being set in their bowls.

My attention turns to the groaning hinges of the gate at the front of the property. Fear grips me when I see a middle-aged man enter the yard. Wearing a black suit and tie, his shiny shoes tap the tiled walkway. Smoke from his cigarette billows above his slicked- back hair.

How did he unlock the gate? Why aren’t the dogs barking?

He is fast approaching my great-aunt’s stooped body. Oblivious to the intruder, she caresses the dogs’ heads while they devour their meal. When I try to scream to warn her, I become paralyzed. It’s the same type of paralysis when I’m asleep. Straining to scream, my mouth is wide open, but I have no voice. With arms extended, the man bends over to embrace her from behind. But before touching my great-aunt, he vanishes into a puff of smoke.

The next morning, my great-grandmother took me to her medium friend. She wanted to know if the man I saw was her husband, my deceased great-grandfather coming to visit his daughter. The medium’s spirit guide confirmed it was her husband and instructed my grandmother to tell my mom to take me to the Mesa Branca (White Table) Spiritist Center in our neighborhood for counseling on my mediumship development.
In the Mesa Branca séance meetings, mediums sit around a table covered in white linen. A vase with white roses, a jar with water and several glasses are set at the center of the table. The “patients” sit in chairs placed against the walls. The Center is always filled with people looking for guidance from spirit guides regarding health, relationships, finances, and spiritual matters.

Waiting for the session to begin, I stare at a charcoal drawing of Jesus blessing a boy kneeling at his feet. There are shelves with several statues around the room: St. George slaying a dragon, St. Joseph holding a baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Our Lady of Aparecida, the venerated black Madonna and patron saint of Brazil. Candles flicker casting elongated shadows on the walls. Sweet incense fragrance fills the atmosphere.

Through clinks of a beaded curtain, the medium enters the room wearing all white. She is joined by three other mediums also dressed like doctors. They sit around the table, and the session opens in prayer inviting the spirit guides of light to join us. Moaning, the head medium, an elderly woman with bluish hair, channels her spirit guide. Her body convulses, and the table shakes splashing water from the jar on the tablecloth. The mediums take turns reading from The Gospel According to Spiritism. Soon after the readings, the “patients” stand before each medium to receive their spiritual consultations and healing energy “passes”.

When I receive my “pass”, the medium repeats what my grandmother has told us for years: I have a gift, but I’m too young still to develop my mediumship abilities and receive (channel) my spirit guides. No matter how often we attend the meetings, or how carefully my mother performs the rituals prescribed to cleanse our home and bodies of negative energy, the attacks only intensify as I get older.
My psychic abilities also increase, giving me a sense of power. My intuition is strong, and sometimes I can read people’s minds. Revelations of things no child should be privy to is a burden I cannot share with anyone. Since I’m not emotionally prepared to process these things, I become an ultra-sensitive and moody child.

PART III
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NIV)

In 1968, after years of applying for a Visa, our family was granted entry to America. It’s a complicated story of how we came to this country, specifically Massachusetts. In short, my father’s mother was born in Taunton, Massachusetts and lived there until the age of six. She eventually immigrated to Brazil, but never lost her American citizenship. Two years after the death of her husband, my grandmother returned to her country of birth in 1966, reuniting with her mother after decades of separation.

Two years later, we embarked in search of the Great American Dream.
I was nine, my sister eight when we immigrated. We adjusted well to the English language and culture. My mother however did not. This was my father’s dream, not hers. They had an agreement to live here for five years, work hard, save money, and return to Brazil. Dealing with my spiritual attacks in this country was difficult. There were no mediums, or spiritist Centers that we knew of to seek help. We learned right away, our beliefs were not something to discuss openly in American culture. My mother did her best finding herbs for cleansing baths and incense at the local A&P. And we kept our faith a well-guarded secret.

Sleep paralysis, seeing spirits, hearing noises, and footsteps in the ancient house we lived was a common occurrence. From Brazil, my grandmother mailed us books on spiritism to study, and attended the Mesa Branca on our behalf.

PART IV
“The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists” (Isaiah 19:3, NIV)

Five years later, my parents sent us back to Brazil to live with my maternal grandparents. They would join us as soon as they saved enough to buy a house in Brazil. Even though my sister and I were excited to return home, America was also home to us now.

One night not long after returning to Brazil, while watching the telenovela with my grandparents, sister, and cousins, I had my second fully awake paralysis experience.

It’s the highlight moment of the telenovela’s cliff-hanger episode. From the corner of my eye, I notice an entity enter the hallway. Paralysis takes over my body. Watching in silent horror, I see the translucent, bluish form of an elderly man enter the living room. Even though I can’t hear what he is saying, I can tell he’s angry. His scowling features are surprisingly visible, even if I can see through him. For a few moments he stands there, waving his arms, trying to get our attention. With a dismissive gesture, he bows his head in defeat before turning away, and leaving the room. Released from the paralysis, my screams shocked everyone out of their seats.

When I told them through tears what happened, they groaned in annoyance. The most awaited moment of the program was interrupted. My grandmother was livid. I could tell by her high arched eyebrow. She ordered me to follow her to the kitchen. To my surprise, she also saw the entity. Her anger was not because I disrupted the show, but how I reacted toward a spirit in need—her grandfather. Her reprimand about my spiritual immaturity cut deep. Why was she angry with me for something I had no idea how to control? After all these years, I still had no direction. She advised me to study Kardec’s books again. And insisted I return to the Mesa Branca sessions for mediumship development.

After sharing this experience with two of my aunts, they invited me to come with them to the Umbanda Spiritist Center they had recently joined. I wasn’t familiar with Umbanda, and my aunt explained it me.

Umbanda, a religion brought to Brazil by African slaves, is syncretized with Catholicism. When the slave masters forced the slaves to worship the Catholic saints, the slaves bowed at the altar, however when their foreheads touched the ground they worshipped the images of their own gods buried beneath the altar. In Umbanda there is one supreme god. The deities worshipped are called Orixás. Each Orixá is also represented by a color and, or element.

For example: Oxalá (Jesus) is white. Iemanjá (Virgin Mary), the sea goddess is blue. Xangô (St. John), god of thunder is red and brown. Ogum (St. George) god of war is dark blue and green. There are legions, phalanges, ranks or hierarchies such as: Spirits of African slaves, children, gypsies, and sailors. However, the “left side” or dark forces must be worshipped too. Once a month, Exu (a demon-like deity), is celebrated to ensure he will continue to be the guardian of the Umbanda temple called “terreiro”, keeping dark forces at bay. Pomba-gira, is the female part to Exu. (Incubus and Succubus like spirits).

This fascinated me, and the following week, I attended my first Umbanda service. When we arrived at the temple, an unassuming blue building, we waited outside with a group of mediums. The guests arrived in throngs, walking in the front door. I peeked in from the side door, the mediums’ entrance, and noticed the guests being ushered to benches. A low fence, with a small gate separated the worship area terreiro, from the congregation seating area. A large altar called congá, extended across most of the front wall of the terreiro. It was covered in white lace with many statues of Orixás, candles, and flowers. Two tall atabaque hand drums made of wood, sat at each side of the congá.

When the Pai de Santo (the head medium) arrived, my aunt introduced me. He was a short, kindly looking man, and like all the other mediums, he wore white clothing and beads around his neck.

He takes my hand, and I am mesmerized by the brilliant pool of his blue eyes. I can’t blink when he speaks to me. Hypnotized by his gaze, I listen intently to his words, “Welcome sister. You are from the waters…daughter of Iemanjá. You are ready to develop your mediumship. Welcome.” My heart accelerates. I am light-headed. Something is stirring in my soul. There’s such a strong spiritual presence here. But it’s different. It’s beautiful. Hopeful. Soothing. At last, at the age of fourteen, the search for my purpose in life is revealed.

I join the guests behind the fenced area. My feet will not step on the sacred ground of the terreiro until I’m invited to do so. Incense smoke clears the room of negative energy. The mediums enter, forming a semi-circle around the room. The Pai de Santo bows, before the altar touching his forehead to the base three times. Pounding his chest with closed fist, he salutes the Orixás. With chalk in hand, he kneels drawing a circle with symbols inside on the cement floor. When he finishes, a lighted candle is placed in the center of the pentagram.

Drumming thunders across the room. Bodies sway from side-to-side. Hands clap to the percussion rhythm. Voices sing in worship to the gods. The Pai de Santo mounted by his spirit guide Xangô, thumps his chest in salutation. Speaking in an African sounding language, mingled with broken Portuguese he summons the spirits. The mediums take turns receiving their spirit guides. Shoulders shake. Bodies convulse and writhe. Dancing breaks-out. Voices raise in chants.

My heart is about to explode. The room is spinning. Electric current-like vibrations cause me to shake uncontrollably. Xangô commands me to enter the terreiro. Someone tells me to remove my shoes. I do this without hesitation. At the altar, I bow before the Orixás.

Hyperventilating, I stand before the Pai de Santo for the energy pass. Swaying, I notice a female medium with outstretched arms, stand behind me. Momentarily I lose consciousness and find myself being lifted from the floor by two other mediums. A siren song resonates all around me in worship to my goddess, Iemanjá.

My life is Umbanda. Umbanda is my life. My mediumship is developing well. This is the happiest time of my life, except I miss my parents terribly. It’s been over a year since we left America, and there’s no set date for them to reunite with us yet.
The next step in my spiritual progression is to be baptized at a waterfall. Waterfalls have tremendous vibrations, and energy to cleanse spiritual impurities, I’m told.

At the base of the waterfall’s veil, I step before the Pai de Santo. The slippery rock is cool against the soles of my feet. I have no fear of falling into the bubbling pool below. He takes my hands summoning my spirit guide. Frigid water showers over my bowed head. Like a bolt of lightning, Iemanjá possesses me. Violently, my head snaps back and forth. My long, wet hair arches high over my head, whipping my face repeatedly. When I come out of my trance, I’m overwhelmed with joy and peace.

PART V
“The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God” (Micah 3:7, NIV).

A few months later, my parents returned to Brazil. This was supposed to be the happiest time of our lives, but soon enough our lives took a turn for the worse. Constantly my parents fought. My father hated Brazil. My mother loved it. Only a few months after their arrival, my parents placed a life changing decision in my and my sister’s hands. If we wanted to stay in Brazil, my mother would stay with us, but my father would return alone to America. However, if we decided to return to America, the four of us would go back together. This was a heavy burden for me at fifteen, and my sister at fourteen to bear. Even though my sister was madly in love with a boy she dated since we arrived, she and I agreed we must all return together. Both our hearts are broken. Hers for her boyfriend. Mine for Umbanda.

Before leaving Brazil, the Pai de Santo told me never to channel my spirit guide unless it was in the presence of an experienced medium. I vowed to keep this promise, knowing it would be impossible to find mediums in Massachusetts. (This was in 1975. At present, mediums and spiritist centers can be found almost anywhere in America).

After returning to Massachusetts, my parents bought a beautiful home sitting on a hill, with a pond in the backyard. For the first time in our lives, my sister and I had our own rooms. New furniture and appliances. Nice cars. In high school, I reconnected with old friends, and dated a boy I fell in love with before returning to Brazil. We had a lot in common. He also immigrated from Brazil in the 1960’s, and his grandmother who lived in São Paulo not far from my family, was also a medium.

And at first, everyone was content. Except for my sister. She was miserable without her boyfriend. After a year, she returned to live with my grandparents in Brazil. I continued to worship Iemanjá, faithfully. At the beach, I offered her flowers. Blue candles were lit in her honor. In my room, her statue and my aquamarine beads were a constant reminder of my love for Umbanda and the Orixás. Of course, I still saw shadow people, continued to have sleep paralysis, and vivid psychic dreams. But through Umbanda, I believed my spiritual life was under control.

When my sister decided to get married at sixteen, my father didn’t approve, and wrote asking her to wait. Besides, we couldn’t afford to make another expensive trip to Brazil now. My sister insisted on going forward with the wedding plans. Here in America, our lives began to fall apart. My parents were on the brink of a divorce. The day my sister married, my mother almost lost her mind with grief. The atmosphere at home was heavy with oppression, and depression. No matter how much I prayed to Iemanjá to help, things only got worse.

Through vivid dreams, and whisperings of spirits in my ear, I developed mistrust and intense jealousy for my boyfriend. Like my parents, we fought all the time. There was no peace. No joy. Miraculously, our relationship survived my constant bouts of jealousy and accusations.

We received wonderful news a few months later. My sister was pregnant. Plans to arrive for the baby’s birth moved forward. Even my boyfriend would travel with us. Soon after my high school graduation, we left for Brazil.

My sister gave birth to a sweet baby boy. He only lived for four days. This was a tsunami of devastating pain. Unimaginable, what my sister and brother-in-law were going through. Words from mediums saying the baby’s life was short because of his high-level spirit, and his corporal mission here on earth was completed, did not bring us consolation.

After the funeral, I visited the Umbanda terreiro. During worship, a girl next to me was mounted by her spirit guide. While I bowed my head attempting to concentrate to receive Iemanjá, the girl spun in dance, violently hitting my face with the back of her hand. My concentration broke and I looked up, only to receive another full-blown slap. Her aggression, a poorly disguised ruse through wild dancing. Tears stung my eyes, when I heard gasps and snickering coming from the congregation. The Pai de Santo stood before me calling on Iemanjá for a long time while I sobbed in anger and shame. I knew the girl had done it on purpose. It was impossible for me, in my emotional, contaminated state to receive Iemanjá. And this was the last time I attended the Umbanda terreiro.

When we visited my boyfriend’s grandmother a few days later, her spirit guide told me I could no longer allow my body to remain open. The spirit explained it was too dangerous since I was not regularly attending a temple under the direction of a strong medium. Like a magnet, this left me open for evil entities to enter my body. Devastated, I reluctantly agreed. She performed the ritual to close the chakra where spirits entered my body. Someday, when I was ready again, this would be reversed.

I vowed never to set foot in Brazil again. Despondent, my sister decided to return to America with us. Her husband stayed behind to wait for his visa documentation.
After returning to America, my life became an ash heap of hopeless oppression. The strong pillars of my faith, came crashing to the ground.

PART VI
“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people” (Leviticus 20:6)

The first thing I did upon returning to America, was to remove Iemanjá from the shelf in my room. In a cardboard box, I stored her image along with my beads. From that moment on, the spiritual attacks only intensified, and I didn’t know where to turn to for help.

After a few months, my brother-in-law arrived, only a day before the Great Blizzard of 1978. In June, I was married at nineteen. We bought our first home and had good jobs. We went out and had fun with friends and family. But inside, I was dead. I went through the motions of life with no joy. No peace.

Four years later my son was born. My daughter four years after my son. In the surface our lives looked perfect. My sister also had another boy and a girl, both healthy and beautiful. My parents mended their marriage and enjoyed their grandchildren. But spiritually we all spiraled into a black hole of despair.

My parents, sister, brother-in-law, my husband and I decided we needed a change of scenery. Perhaps moving to Florida and starting a new life in a warmer climate would help raise our spirits. The gray New England winters seemed to be getting longer each year.

Living in Florida was great at first. We all had lovely new homes, swimming pools, and gorgeous beaches nearby. But soon, the spiritual contamination returned to plague us. Even the children were affected by the hell brewing around us night and day. Sometimes they saw or heard things that scared them. Sensing an evil presence particularly in my bedroom, my children refused to enter my bedroom alone.

On many occasions, pounding noises above our bed startled us awake. Once, sounds of shattering glass like a rock thrown through a window had us all scrambling out of bed. We inspected the entire house. The windows were all intact, and we found nothing out-of-place or broken anywhere.

My mood was usually foul, angry, bitter. People walked on eggshells trying not to set off my explosive outbursts. Once I was triggered, anything could happen. I was reckless in my fits of rage, especially when driving. The children white knuckled, held on to their seats for dear life. When my temper flared, whatever I got my hands on became a projectile across the room. My hysterics and madness transformed into guilt and shame once the tempest in my soul calmed. And for reasons I can’t fathom, my husband had the strength to tolerate my violent temper for years.

My health suffered to such extent I had only enough energy to work as an operating room nurse for my shifts. When I got home, I passed out on the couch, unable to cook, clean or care for my family. There were times when I contemplated ending it all, spurred on by sinister voices whispering there was no hope. I was worthless. Insignificant. Love for my children was the only thing keeping me from jumping into the abyss.

When my sister phoned me to tell me she met a pastor from Brazil at the printing shop, my suspiciousness went into overdrive. She became emotional describing his beautiful prayer for her. She told me after he prayed, she felt a peace she never had experienced before. Like a volcano, words of pure hatred for this man I never met erupted from my mouth. I warned her to keep away from him. He was no doubt a charlatan looking for money.

This did not dissuade her from gushing about how he also prayed with my teen nephew. And how the pastor encouraged him to marry the girl he recently impregnated. My nephew not only agreed to this but swore off drugs as well. I didn’t believe her. Personally, I took him to counseling for help with his addiction, with no positive results.
She invited the pastor to come for coffee at her house the following Saturday. My parents were going to be there too. And she wanted us to join them. I refused the invitation.

After hanging up with her, I reconsidered. If this holy man believed he could weasel himself in my family with his self-righteous teachings, I would be there to confront him.
On Saturday, I arrived at my sister’s house armed and ready to fight. We walked in to see the pastor, my parents, sister and brother-in-law at the table, drinking coffee and eating cake. At the sight of the pastor rising from his chair, making his way to greet us, I froze in place with burning hatred for him. Embarrassed, my sister got up from her chair, “Pastor, this is my sister. The one we’ve been praying for.”

“I don’t remember asking anyone to pray for me.”

Unfazed, the pastor extended his hand. My husband shook the man’s hand and made his way the table. But the pastor didn’t budge when I ignored his hand. During our standoff, he touched my shoulder saying the Lord brought him here to help me and my family.

Suddenly, there was such a strong presence of my spirit guide, like I had not experienced in years. I was warned. This was an ambush by the pastor. He was cunning and must be struck down. It was impossible to remain in close proximity to the pastor. I sidestepped him and headed for the patio telling my husband to finish his cake so we could leave.

Slamming the sliding glass door with force, I sat by the pool. With trembling hands, I lit a cigarette. My wrath for the man was insurmountable. Seconds later, the patio door swooshed open. I could not believe the man followed me outside with Bible in hand. Abruptly, I rose from my chair stunning the man to stop in his tracks. My face flushed when I told him I was not interested in talking about religion.

With maddening calmness, the man quoted scripture, “If you call upon His name, He will answer you. He will be with you in trouble. He will deliver you and honor you. With long life He will satisfy you and show you His salvation.”

Snuffing out my cigarette, I told him I didn’t believe in a book written by men to control people through fear and condemnation. Furthermore, he couldn’t manipulate me like he did my sister and rest of the family, “I have spirit guides to protect me. I don’t need your religion.”

I brushed past him, but he followed me back inside. “Sister, there are no such things as spirit guides.” He opened the Bible, jabbing the page with his index finger, “These are demons you listen to.”

I whirled around to face my family. Were they listening? Did he not offend them? It baffled me how no one reacted to this stranger’s arrogance in criticizing our beliefs. With patience, my mother suggested I at least listen to what the man had to say. What if this was true? What if what we believed our entire lives was not from God?

My head was throbbing, and I squeezed it between my hands. The room went silent except for the sounds of the onion-skin Bible pages turning. Like seismic waves, my anger rose. The last thing I wanted was to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. Grabbing my purse, I told my husband we had to go.

“Before you leave sister, I challenge you to read with your own eyes what the Word of God has taught for thousands of years: Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

Through clenched teeth, I reminded him the Bible meant nothing to me.

Finally, my father interceded and told me to sit. All the arguing was getting us nowhere. He suggested the pastor ask me about my beliefs, before judging. At last, I had an ally. Taking a seat, I accepted a cup of coffee from my sister’s extended hand.

“Fair enough,” he tapped his Bible, “You don’t believe in heaven, or hell, correct? Tell me what happens to people when they die?”

My response was obvious: Spirits pass through many stages of evolution. What he called demons were merely obsessive spirits in parallel dimensions here on earth. They can’t evolve because they choose not to. The good spirits of light are superior, evolved spirits. Before our own spirits achieve this light, they are reincarnated until attaining it.

Taking his Bible, he pointed to a verse and asked me to read it. But I crossed my arms, refusing the offer. Smiling, he said there was no such thing as reincarnation, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement.”

Something about those words, peaked my interest. And for a millisecond, I wanted to hear more. Nevertheless, with a dismissive wave I told him it was pointless trying to discuss what I believed with him if he kept referencing the Bible.

When the time came for him to leave, he offered to pray for us, inviting everyone to join hands in a circle. I refused. But with a warning look, my father snatched my hand, and my husband grabbed the other, closing the circle.

As soon as the pastor began to pray, what I believed to be my spirit guide, suddenly manifested. Laughter spilled from my mouth unchecked. The harder I tried to stop, the more I laughed. Through my trance, I heard the pastor yell, “In the name of Jesus Christ! Come out of her, evil spirit!”

The entity had a hold of me. Writhing in pain, coming in and out of consciousness, I couldn’t understand what was happening. How could I be possessed, if my chakra was closed years ago? I was close to passing out. My heart pounded. My chest hurt. Perspiration beaded on my face. And I begged the pastor to stop, thinking this was his doing.

My father came to my rescue and ordered the pastor to let me be. Finally breaking free, I ran to the bathroom and vomited, not the coffee I drank a few minutes before, but a clear gelatinous substance. Feeling spent and betrayed, I told everyone in no uncertain terms that I never wanted to see the pastor again.

PART VII
“Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Legion,’ he replied, because many demons had gone into him” (Luke 8:30, NIV).

After the experience at my sister’s house, I began to doubt my spirit guide’s identity. About spiritism in general. Even though I was not yet convicted, it broke my heart to hear the pain in my husband’s voice when he suggested for the pastor to at least come to the house and pray. He described how hideously distorted, and disfigured I became while possessed. My teenage son and nephew witnessed part of the possession. Both were distraught and begged me to let the pastor help me. Even though I was confused and conflicted, out of love for my family, I finally agreed to a deliverance session.

The pastor instructed my entire family to fast, and to remain in prayer on the day of my deliverance, Saturday, March 29th, 1997. He and his wife were scheduled to arrive at my house at five in the afternoon. I fasted too and tried to read the leather-bound Bible he gave me. My husband and children left to join my parents, sister and family at my sister’s house to remain in intercessory prayer.

While alone, I had second thoughts about the deliverance. Panic took over me. Voices kept whispering for me to flee. To run away before he arrived. I took the Bible but couldn’t open it. I tried to pray, but my mind became flooded with alarming threats. Unable to stand the tension any longer, I grabbed my car keys and ran to the door. When I opened it, the pastor and his wife were already standing there.

Prayer and scripture reading by the pastor and his wife initiated the deliverance process. When he tried to anoint me with oil, I recoiled away from him hearing myself screech. There are only a few things I recall clearly about my deliverance. Most details were given to me by the pastor and my sister.

We went through the entire house removing items consecrated to the demonic realm I served my entire life. Images of my hands going through drawers and closets, finding the box with Iemanjá and my beads, the rosary above my bed, clothes, jewelry, occult books, records, and video tapes, are my main recollections of the event. Like in a dream, I also remember crouching behind my house, digging the dirt with my fingers trying to unearth a statue of St. Joseph buried upside-down (a superstitious ritual to sell my house).

My sister however, related horrific details later on to me about the deliverance. Physically, I became transformed. My eyes turned black with hatred. Like a serpent’s tongue coming in and out of my distorted mouth, I spat and blasphemed God. My hands like claws threatened the pastor. When the pastor placed a crucifix on my forehead, the demon laughed hysterically. But when he placed an empty cross over my forehead declaring Jesus Christ’s victory over death, His resurrection, and that our sins were forgiven by His precious blood, the demon screeched in agony saying it was being burned. Momentarily, I remember opening my eyes to a silhouette of a cross. The light felt bright like the sun, blinding me to the point where I had to cover my eyes with my arm.

Finally, when the pastor yelled, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her,” Satan’s stronghold yoke in my life was broken. Like a bomb exploding around me, my body flew high in the air. And I was thrown several feet halfway the length of the hallway. When my back crashed on the tile floor, I opened my eyes. Amazingly, the force of the impact didn’t injure me. Instantly, a dark veil lifted from my eyes. I stood smiling, in awe of my surroundings. Now I understood what it meant to be born again. I was a new creation in Christ. The old had gone. Never before had I felt such peace. Christ had truly set me free.

It surprised me to see my sister sobbing into her hands. I had no idea she was present since she arrived after the deliverance started. The air smelled of sulfur and smoke. I looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. It seemed as if only a couple of hours had passed. But the deliverance lasted more than eight hours. When my husband arrived, the first thing he noticed were several trash bags filled with items to be burned. The second thing was the smell of smoke in kitchen. Even though the pastor assured him this was residual odor from the deliverance, my husband still rushed to the refrigerator, pushing it away from the wall, certain we had an electrical fire.

PART VIII
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, NIV).

The day after my deliverance was Resurrection Sunday. Even though I only slept for three hours, I was able to wake up without an alarm clock for the first time in my life. Feeling refreshed, I rushed out of the house to attend my first sunrise service.

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ used this missionary pastor to bring the Good News of Salvation and deliverance from the occult to many members of my family. He ministered to our family in Florida, in Massachusetts, and Brazil. Many were saved and now live for Christ, and Christ alone. My parents, my sister and her family, my family and I all accepted Jesus Christ as our only Lord and Savior. We were all baptized in my sister’s pool.

As soon as we became Christians, my parents changed Pyramid Printing’s name to Hosanna Printing. After the business was passed on to me and my sister, the name was changed to Redeemer Printing. All for his Honor and Glory.

And now, when I look at my grandchildren’s innocent faces, I shudder to think they could have inherited these demonic curses.

Praise the Lord for His promise of lavishing unfailing love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep his commandments.

PART IX
AFTERWORD
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Timothy, NIV).

After my deliverance and salvation, it took me many years to openly share my past involvement with the occult. While researching for Christians with past experiences in spiritism online, I found Laura Maxwell’s ministry, Our Spiritual Quest. Laura’s testimony is powerful. Her humble and gentle manner in reaching out to those who are entangled in any type of occult practice is inspiring. I became an avid follower of her radio program and blog. We connected through social media and her encouragement, gave me the courage to write my testimony, even though it took me nearly two years to finally complete it.

Her interviews with Mark Hunnemann, and many other guests with past occult experiences are edifying. I read Mark Hunnemann’s brilliant book, Seeing Ghosts through God’s Eyes, and soon we connected on social media too. Both Laura and Mark have been a tremendous blessing in my life, and I thank God for their lives.

I pray for those who read this and are not saved, to ask Jesus Christ into their hearts. If you are, or were involved in the occult in any way, including horoscopes, Ouija boards, fortune-telling, or any involvement in the New Age, spiritism, Yoga etc., please ask the Lord to deliver you from it. Find a Bible teaching church and ask for God’s direction in all areas of your life.

Though my testimony is not unique, it illustrates occult practices in detail that many may not be familiar with. Sadly, the kingdom of the occult is spreading at alarming rates, infiltrating all areas including schools, healthcare, and even churches. The fact that many pastors ignore this topic and turn a blind eye to this spiritual holocaust is distressing.

Some may ask how can healing the sick, or aiding a person in need be from Satan? The Word of God teaches us through many verses in Scripture about Satan’s deceitfulness: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV); “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, NIV).

For those who believe they have seen, or contacted the spirit of a departed loved one, this is also a scheme of the devil. Familiar spirits are demons who show themselves in human form only to deceive. Demons have been here on earth since the beginning of time. They know intimate details about our lives: Births, deaths, marriages, infidelities, friendships, betrayals, and even the most basic day-to-day information about us and our loved ones, living or dead.

Satan’s goal is to use his craftiness and trickery to stray humans from God’s truths, and eternal salvation. But, when we put our trust in Jesus Christ, and give our lives to Him, our eyes are opened to His truth, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13 NIV).